April 20, 2024

Locals participate in Veteran’s History Project

By Newton Daily
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Iowa National Guard Colonel Gregory Hapgood (right) presents a plaque to Burton Snook of Newton for participating in the Veterans History Project held November 4 on the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Newton Campus.  Snook and 11 other veterans were interviewed about their wartime experiences.  These interviews were transcribed by members of the Iowa Court Reporters Association and videotaped by professional videographers. Transcripts and video recordings of the interviews will become an official record in the Library of Congress. Transcripts will also be added to the DMACC Library collection. Snook was a Seaman First Class in the Navy from March of 1944 to May of 1946 and served as a navy gunner on merchant marine ships.  He served on ships in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and was in a battle on the English Channel when five ships were lost.  Following the interviews, the veterans and their guests were honored during an awards luncheon held on the DMACC Newton Campus. This project was hosted by students in the court reporting program on the DMACC Newton Campus. (Submitted Photo)

Twelve Veterans participated in the Veterans History Project on the Des Moines Area Community College Newton Campus.

These veterans were interviewed about their wartime experiences. These interviews were transcribed by members of the Iowa Court Reporters Association and videotaped by professional videographers.

Transcripts and video recordings of the interviews will become an official record in the Library of Congress. Transcripts will also be added to the DMACC Library collection.

The 12 veterans included: Robert DeBord of Urbandale, Verle Summers of Newton, Burton Snook of Newton, Bill Zegers of Newton, Dino Righi of Des Moines, Arnold Cook of Newton, Craig Nida of Ankeny, John Rossi of West Des Moines, Gregory Salazar of Windsor Heights, Lonny Wunn of Bondurant, Fred Dimon of Newton and Raymond Bagg of Des Moines.

Following the interviews, the veterans and their guests were honored during an awards luncheon held on the DMACC Newton Campus. Iowa National Guard Colonel Gregory Hapgood attended the ceremony to present certificates to all the veterans who participated. This project was hosted by students in the court reporting program on the DMACC Newton Campus.